Liquid level gauge



Aug. 18, 1936. E. A. zEvELY ET Al. 2,051,559

LIQUID LEVELGAUGE Filed oct. 24,' 19:55 2 shets-sheet 1 l vww/M/ EDWARDA- zE/ELY ANTHDNY En- Ml BABE Stimm;

ug- 18, 1935 E. A. zEvl-:LY Er A1.

LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Filed oct. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mex;

Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED s'lATEs LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Edward A.Zevely and Anthony B. McCabe, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application October 24, 1935, Serial No. 46,572

12 Claims.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gaugesfor indicating the quantity of liquid in a tank or reservoir,especiallyA those for storing gasoline, etc.

Among the objects of the invention are: to provide a gauge which ispractical, i. e., well designed and built, and of such construction thatit will accurately indicate the level of the liquid in a clear andeasily readable manner; to provide a gauge of the float-operated typewhich may be applied to the lling neck of the tank; to provide a gaugewhich may be applied to such neck in a manner so that access to theindicating mechanism may be obtained, for replacements or repairs whennecessary, without removing the entire case from the lling neck; toprovide a gauge with a float guide which is secured rigidly Within thelling neck; to provide means for preventing the case from swiveling onthe lling neck and thereby keeping the indicating mechanism within thecase always properly lined up with the tape portion that extends intothe tank and carries the float; to provide a tubular float which extendsvhorizontally in the direction of the length of the tank and is heldwith its axis substantially parallel with that of the tank by the floatguide; to providea gauge whose float guide not only performs thefunction of a guide for the oat but also serves, in part, as theswivel-preventing means and as a means through which, without removal ofthe case, may be used as a means through which water of condensation maybe pumped out of the Atank; to provide a gauge with a oat of such formand construction that it may be placed in the tank through the llingopening; to provide an indicating mechanism which includes a calibratedtape connected to the float and extending through the float guide intothe\ case where it is wound on a rotary, spring-balanced drum, the casehaving a suitable transparent window through which the tape is readable;to provide means for wiping the inside of the window to remove fog orcondensed moisture therefrom; to provide a spring housing and meanswhereby it may be filled with glycerine, alcohol, or any suitableantifreeze liquid; to provide a oat guide securing means of a verysimple structure which will hold the parts in place in the filling neckby retainingY friction.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention stillfurther resides in the novel details of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, all of which will be rst (Cl. 'I3-82) fullydescribed in the following detailed description, and then beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, vreference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of our invention in use, the tank beingindicated in dotted line.

Figure 2 is a. side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 isan enlarged central vertical section of the gauge, the lowerparts of the oat guide being broken away, a part of the case beingbroken 10l away, and a part removed.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3. l

Figure `5 is a top plan View of the gauge.

Figures 6 and 'l are detail cross sections on 15 the lines 6-6 and 1-1respectively of Figure 3.

In the drawings, in which like letters and numerals of'referenceindicatelike parts in all the gures, T represents the tank and t thethreaded ange over the lling opening into which the neck l is screwed.The neck l is threaded at its ends, j as at 2 and 3, so as to lit theflange t and receive the split sockety 5 and 6 of the case 4 and 1.

The case is made in two parts flanged at 8 and- 9 and secured togetherby suitable screws, as 25 indicated. The case is not placed on the pipeby v screwing it on although the case `and pipe Iare threaded.

The portion of the case which houses the spring box and tape drumincludes an arcuate portion 3,0 lu having an opening Il to receive theglass or other transparency l2, the latter being held in place by aslotted plate l3` and screws Ill-|40.. The parts II-Ma comprise thewindow structure of the case. 35

An indicator l5 is provided, which may consist of a line, scratched,etched orpainted on the glass l2,- or" it may be a fine wire extendedrigidly across the glass.

The float guide comprises two rod-like'members 40 I6 and 22,` secured inthe neck l by metal braces 23 of hard (preferably slightly resilient)metal.

The member i6 is preferably a pipe with a relatively thick Wall, whichpipe extends upwardly through the case and a part of the ange 8, being45 suitably packed as by means of jam nuts I8 and 20 and a gasket I9 ofsuitable material, as cork for example, on the threaded end Il of thepipe I6. A cap 2| closes the upper end of the pipe I6.

The member 22 may also be a pipe if desired.

The braces 23 have a driving t in the neck and hold the pipes I6 and 22rigidly in placel with retaining friction. l

The spring box 24 is secured to the side wall 4 QI the case by suitablescrews 26. It is bored 55 and tapped to receive the bearing 21, thelatter being locked by the disc 28 as a jam nut.

The tape drum 30 has its stub shaft 29 journaled inthe bearing 21, itbeing held in place by a springy clip 42 located in a groove in theshaft.

'Ihe counter-balancing spring 40 has one end secured at 39 to the shaft29 and has its other end secured at 4I to the peripheral portion 25 ofthe spring box 24.

The tape drum is lightened by holes 32 and has is peripheral portion 3lslit, as at 33, to receive an end of the measuring tape 34 woundthereon.

The tape 34 extends down between the pipes I6 and 22 through the braces23, and has an eye 35 to receive the rod-like wire 36 whose ends arecurved over and secured axially to the ends of the oat 31-38, the wire36 having a loop 3Ia to receive the eye 35 when the parts areoperatively assembled.

on a rod 38 which extends between the guide pipes I 6 and 22, theadjacent ends of the fioat drums 31 lying in proximity to such pipes.

In order to steady the tape where vit enters the case from the tank andprevent its twisting or becoming laterally out of alignment with thetape drum 30, We may provide guide rollers 45 carried by a support 43secured to one of the pipes (say I6) by a set screw 44, or in any othersuitable way.

Since the window transparency I2 sometimes fogs from moisture condensedon its inner face, we provide means to wipe the same so that vthevisibility of the indicating tape 34 may not be impaired. 'Ihe windowmay be wiped by providing a squeegee 41 carried by a rod.46 passingthrough a stufiing box 49, or its equivalent, and

carrying a suitable handle 48 by which the rod 46 may be moved out andin to carry the squeegee 41 over the surface of the glass. Normally therod preferably remains pushed in, but when a reading is desired it maybe pulled out to clear the marker I5 (or the rod 48 itself may be usedas the marker).

The lower ends of the pipes I6 and 22 are beveled olf as at 50 to forman inverted V entrance to the guideway between them so that when thedevice is being placed in the tank the guides I6-22 can be readilyslipped over the rod 38.

In order that the spring box 24 may be filled 50VR th suitableantifreeze liquid, a hole 5I is prov ed which may -line up with one ofthe holes for a screw, say I4, which holds the plate I3 in place. Byremoving screw I4* the opening 5I is exposed for lling purposes.

The manner in which our invention operates will be clear from a mereinspection of the drawings.

In placing the device-in position on and in the tank the parts securedto the neck are first assembled; then the tape and oat are connected.The float is inserted through the tank opening endwise (after beingpulled to and beyond the ends of pipes I6 and 22) After inserting thefloat and tape through pipe I the," guide pipes I6 and 22 are putin.After securing guide pipes I6 and 22 in pipe I the side 4 of thecasecontaining the mechanism is tted over guidev pipe I6. The /threadedbottom portion of the case engages the threadson pipe I. Then the locknuts I8 and 20 are tightened'. The tape is next fastened to takeup drumand then the other side 1 of the case is put on and secured with screws.The pipe I6 prevents the case swivelling on the neck I when once the)parts are assembled.

'Ihe float consists of two elongated drums 31 In. order to remove thegauge entirely from the tank the case sections 4 and 1 are separated byremoving the screws, the lock nut 20 and washer I9 are removed togetherwith cap 2|; tape is unfastened from drum and case removed from pipe I.Pipes I6 and 20 together with the friction braces 23 are then removed(the braces being pulled with any suitabletool). After the pipes I6 and22 and-braces 23 vhave been removed a wire with a' hook at its end isinserted through pipe I'and is brought into engagement with the rod wire35 and the fioat is 11p-ended. After being up-ended the oat is fishedthrough the filling opening of the tank.- It should be understood thatit is not necessary to remove the pipe I. However, if desired the pipesI6 and 20 with the braces 23 may be allowed to remain in the pipe I andthe pipe I unscrewed from the tank, in order to remove pipes I6 and v22,if such be found more convenient.\

Obviously in practice the length of the oat structure should not equalthe internal diameter of the tank. In the showing of the float structure(Figures 1 and 2) the same is shown considerably amplified as regardsthe tank structure.

When it is desired to remove water of condensation. that may beaccumulated at the bottom of the tank T, cap 2| is removed and a suctionpump is connected to pipe I6.

Pipe I6 may also be used for filling purposes i1' desired.

Fromthe foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it is thought that the construction, operation and advantagesof the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

What we claim is:

1. In a liquid level gauge for tanks having an opening, a pipe securedto the tank over the opening and extending upwardly, a split casemounted on and over the upper end of said pipe, a float guide mounted insaid pipe and extending into the tank and engaging said case to hold Itagainst swivelling on said pipe, a measuring tape, a tap'e drum mountedin said case to which one end of said tape is anchored, acounter-balancing spring device for cooperation with said drum alsomounted in said case, a oat comprising a pair of drum-like bodiesconnected by a bar, said float guide cooperating with said bar and theadjacent ends of said oat bodies to guide the float, the other end ofIsaid tape being connected with said float, said case having a windowthrough which said tape may be read.

2. In a liquid level gauge for tanks having'an opening, a pipe securedto the tank over the opening and extending upwardly, a split casemounted on and over the upper end of said pipe, a. float guide mountedin said pipe and extending into the tank and engaging said case to holdit against swivelling on said pipe, a measuring tape, a tape drummounted in said case to which one end of said tape is anchored, acounter-balancing spring device for cooperation with said drum alsomounted in said case, a float comprising a pair of drumflikebodiesconnected .by a bar, said float guide cooperating with said bar and theadjacent ends of said float bodies to guide the float,

the other end of said tape being connected .with

, passed throughsaid pipe endwise in inserting or removing the floatwith respect to the tank.

lili 3, In a liquid level gauge for liquid storage tanks, a supportingpipe removabLv connectabie to the tank, a float guide carried by saidpipe, a case also carried by said pipe, registering mechanism in saidcase which mechanism includes a calibrated tape that extends throughsaid pipe, and a iioat operatively associated with said float guide towhich iioat said tape is connected, said case having a window throughwhich said tape may be read, said float guide comprising two parallelrod-like elements extending into the tank and into said pipe, and saidfloat comprising two buoyant bodies connected end to end by a rodlikemember passed between said two parallel elements with one buoyant bodyat each side of the float guide.

4. In a liquid level gauge for liquid storage tanks, a supporting piperemovably connectable to the tank, a iloat guide carried by said pipe, a

case also carried by said pipe', registering mecha- Y nism in said casewhich mechanism includes acalibrated tape that extends through saidpipe, a float operatively associated with said float guide to whichiioat said tape is connected, said case having a window through whichsaid tape may be read, said float guide comprising two parallel rodlikeelements extending into the tank, vand said .float comprising twobuoyant bodies connected end to end by a rod-like member passed betweensaid two parallel elements with one buoyant body at each side of thefloat guide, said tape passing between said rod-like elements, and guiderollers carried by at least one of said rod-like elements to center thetape as it passes into the case from the tank.

5. In a liquid level gauge for liquid storage tanks, a supporting piperemovably connectable to the tank, a iicat guide carried by said pipe, acase also carried by said pipe, registering mechanlsm in said case whichmechanism includes av calibrated tape that extends through said pipe, aoat operatively associated with said iioat guide to which iioat saidtape is connected, said case having a window through which said tape maybe read, said float guide comprising a pair of parallel rod-likeelements, and braces in said pipe for holding said rod-like elements inthe pipe by retaining friction.

6. In a liquid level gauge for liquid storage tanks, a supporting piperemovably connectable to the tank, a oat guide carried by said pipe, acase also carried by said pipe, registering mechanism in said case whichmechanism includes a calibrated tape that extends through said pipe, aoat operatively associated with said iioat guide to which oat said tapeis connected, said case having a window through which said tape may beread, said oat guide comprising a pair of parallel rod-likeelements,`and braces in said pipe for holding said rod-like elements inthe pipe by retaining friction, said case being threaded onto said pipeand one of saidrod-like elements being also secured to said case toprevent swiveling of the case on said pipe. n

'7. In a liquid level gauge for liquid storage tanks, a supporting piperemovably connectable to the tank, a float guide carried by said pipe. acase also carried by said pipe, registering mechanism in said case whichmechanism includes a calibrated tape that extends through said pipe, afloat operatively associated with said iioat guide to which oat saidtape is connected, said case having a window through which said tape maybe read, saidr oat guide comprising a pair of parallel rod-likeelements, braces in said'pipe for holding into said ilange, a casescrewed onto said pipe, f

a float guide carried by and rigidly secured within said pipe andextending into the tank, a registering mechanism in the case includingan indicating tape, a float guided within the tank by said float guide,said tape being connected to said iloat, said registering mechanismincluding a counter-balancing spring, a box therefor, and a tape take-updrum rotatably' journaled in a bearing carried by said box.

9. In a liquid level gauge for tanks having an opening provided with aiiange, a pipe screwed into said flange, a case screwed onto said pipe,a

oat guide carried by and rigidly secured within said pipe and extendinginto the tank, a registering mechanism in the case including anindicating tape, a oat guided Within the tank by said iioat guide, saidtape being connected to said float, said registering mechanism includinga counter-balancing spring, a box therefor, a tape take-up drumrotatably journaled in a bearing carried by said box, and means throughwhich said box may be filled with an antifreeze liquid.

10. In a liquid level gauge for tanks having an opening provided with aange. a pipe screwed into said ange, a case screwed onto said pipe, afloat guide carried by and rigidly secured within said pipe andextending into the tank, a registering mechanism in the case includingan indicating tape, a float guided within the tank by said float guide,said tape being connected to said float, said registering mechanismincluding a counter-balancing spring, a box therefor, a tape take-updrum rotatably journaled in a bearing carried by said box, said casehaving a window through which said tape may be read, and a squeegeewiper device mounted within the case to lie between said drum and windowfor wiping the window, said wiper device having an operating handlelocated outside the case.

ing secured to and over the upper end of said pipe, a registering-mechanism in said casing, which registering mechanism includes acalibrated tape passing between said guide members and connected withsaid float, the tubular guide member extending upwardly through saidcasing and having a removable cap over its upper end for the purposesdescribed. v

12. In a liquid level gauge for liquid storage tanks, a supporting pipe,a iloat guide comprising two parallel rod-like guide members, one ofwhich is tubular, said guide members projecting into said pipe, means insaid pipe for holdm bers and connected with said iioat, the `tubularguide member extending upwardly through said casing and having aremovable cap over its upper end, said casing having a threadedengagement with said pipe, and said tubular guide member and said casingbeing secured together whereby said tubular guide member will preventswivelling of said casing on said pipe.

EDWARD A. ZEVELY. ANTHONY B. MCCABE.

